Electric-arc lamp



t e e h S S. a e h S 2 N I L H G U A L c M l M d 0 M O m ELEGTRIG ARC LAMP.

Patented Nov. 28,1882.

N. PETERS. PholoLHhwgmphnr. \Vashmgton, n. c.

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' J. MOLAUG'HLIN.

ELECTRIC ARC LAMP. No. 268,038. Patented Nov. 28, 1882.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES MOLAUGHLIN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELECTRIC-ARC LAMP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 268,038, dated November 28, 1882,

Application filed August 11, 1882.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES MGLAUGHLIN, of Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electric Lamps and I do hereby declare thatthe following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same,reference beinghadto theaccompanyingdrawings,and to letters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

The object of my invention is to produce an are electric lamp which will, without the application of clock-work or other intricate mechanism, automatically regulate the relative position of the positive to the negative carbon point. To accomplish this result I utilize the weight of the carbon and carbon-holding rod or tube to overcome the friction of a screw, and to revolve the same, when it is released, by a friction-clutch, which is automatically operated by the fluctuations of armatures, according to the tension of the electric current, substantially as described in the following specification and as illustrated in the drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a vertical section of the lamp. Fig. 2 is a view showing the manner in which the armatures operate the counterpart box of the friction-clutch. Fig. 3 is a view of the screw. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the counterpart box. Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the frictionclutch, and Fi 6 is a sectional View of bushing or mouthpiece of the carbon-holding tube.

In the drawings, A represents a metal tube, having a headpiece screwed on its upper end, which is provided with a hook or eye, whereby the lamp is suspended. This tube is rigidly secured to the upper surface of the top of the cylindrical box B, or to an annular flange projecting therefrom, by screws or otherwise. The box B holds and protects from exposure the helices and other actuating mechanism, and is composed of the bottom and top I) and a, which are separated and held in position by the columns b" b. The bottom of the box is slightly greater in diameter than the top,having a circumferential rabbet, on which rests the cylindrical side b This side piece is made to be vertically movable, so that the inclosed mechanism may be inspected and repaired if need (No model.)

be. Surrounding the tube A, just above the box,is a conical-shaped apron or cap, the skirts of which droop over the cylindrical sides of the-box, so as to protect the same from the dust and rain.

Secured to the under surface of the bottom I) of the box, in positions diametrically opposite each other, are the brackets c c, which hold the hangersO C. These hangers are constructed so that the rain will drop 011' before reaching the carbon, and so as to support the disk D, on which rests and is secured in the usual manner the globe of the lamp. The disk has a central perforation, so as to allow the negative carbon to pass through it and be secured in suitable position by clamping devices and thumbnuts, as shown in the drawings.

Extending up from the hangers, above the the brackets c c, are the positive and negative binding-posts E and E. The positive bindingpost E is thoroughly insulated in the bracket 0, and is connected with one of the upper helices by an insulated wire, c as shown. The post E is a continuation of the hangerG,the wholebeingthoroughlyinsulated from the box B. Thusit will be perceived that when the positive and negative wires are connected to their respective posts and the carbon points properly adjusted a continuous current is formed, passing down the post E through the upper helices and lower helices, through .the carbon-holding tube and the positive and negative carbon, up the hanger C and postE of the negative wire to the next lamp, and so on. The positive carbon is secured by a suitable clamping device in the lower end of the carbon-holding tube F, said tube pursuing a vertical course through central perforations in the bottom and top of the box B up into the tube A, to a point near the closed top of the same. It is provided at the top with a bushing, 0, having a female screw in the portion fitting in the tube, and having a flange which fits snugly against the inner circumference of the tube A.

Immediately above the bushing e is a diaphragm, 6, having a central aperture to permit the barrelof the screw to pass through it, and which serves as a seat for the collarfon said screw.

Screwed or otherwise affixed on the top of screw and held thereon by a thumb-nut is a friction-clutch, g, having, as will be seen, four inverted-L-shaped arms, 9, radiating at right angles to each other from aboss. These arms extend downward into the cup-shaped counterpart box G, supported and rigidly secured on the top ends of the rods H, arranged preferably diametrically opposite each other, and passing vertically downward within the tube A through corresponding perforations in the diaphragm c, flange of the bushing e, and the top of and into the box B. The lower ends of the rods Hare screw-threaded and pass through perforations in the +-shaped bracket I, which is secured thereon by the thumb-nuts h. This bracket I has four arms extending from a boss surrounding the tube F, two, i i, of which receive the rods H, as above described, and the other two, i 'i, of which have fastened to their extremities the armatures, as will hereinafter be more fully described. At or near the extremities ot' the arms 2', and passing vertically through the same, are the coupling-pins J, having at either end hooks adapted to receive the contiguous ends of the contraction-springsj and 7s. The tension of the upper series of springs, j, is less than that of the lower ones, k, and they are fastened at their upper ends to a suitable hook extendingdownward from the inner surface of the top of the box. The lower springs, 7c, are fastened at their upper ends to the coupling-pins and at their lower ends to the nuts k, tapped to receive and move on the screw k passing into the box from beneath, as shown. The arms 2" i of the bracket have secured at their extremities, preferably by screws, the armatures m an, arranged vertically and at right angles to said arms. The bracket I is located about the vertical center of the box 13, so that the armatures or may enter the hollow cores of the upper and more powerful helices, m m, and the lower series, a a, ar-

ranged as shown in the drawings.

Having described the principal mechanism of my lamp, it may be well to give an outline of its modes opcrandi.

When the points of the carbon are properly adjusted-that is, when their relative position is such as-to permit a continuous unbroken current of electricity-the magnetism of the upper series of helices, being the most powerful, attracts the armatures into their cores, thus raising the bracket I, the rods H, and the counterpart box G, which latter, pressing against the arms ofthe friction-clutch, prevents the screw from revolving, and the contingent downward movement of the carbon-holding rod and carbon; but when the carbon points have burned away, separating the points such a distance that the tension of the current cannot overcome the resistance, the tension of the current is destroyed to such an extent that the magnetism of the helices is no longer sufficient to keep the armaturesin their first position; consequently they drop, releasing the friction-clutch and allowing the screw (by reason of the weight of the carbon-holdin g tube and carbon) to revolve.

- the same way in its stead.

It will be noticed in Fig. 3 that the thread of the screw G ceases at a point a half-inch or an inch above its lower end. This is the only means I take to avoid the carbon points burning all away, and thereby causing danger to the efficacy of the machine. When the carbon point (the positive one) has burned nearly away the carboltholding tube will have moved downward until the bushing, working off the thread of the screw, will drop, (the flange of the same resting on the top of the box 13,) thus causing the positive carbon to rest on the negative carbon, putting out the light, but making a complete circuit on to the next lamp.

It is apprehended that by the application of mechanical skill the principle of my invention can be avoided by making the carbon-holder a rod instead of a tube, as I have described it, which is screw-threaded near its top, meshing with a female screw in a tube, which would be regulated in its revolutions substantially in the same manner as the male screw in the invention as described. I claim this method, however, as coming within the spirit of my invention. Moreover, I would state that, it desired, glycerine or oil could be inserted in the cup of the counterpart-box to retard or rather act as sort of brake upon the action of the friction-clutch described; but I do not consider it beyond the scope of my invention to remove the friction-clutch described and substitute any clutch operating in substantially The current in my lamp is broken in the ordinary manner-that is, by a shunt, O, affixed to the extremity of the bracket 0, and capable of hearing at the will of the operator upon the hanger 0.

It will be noticed there is an annular flange projecting down around the central aperture in the bottom of the box B, through which the carbon-holding tube passes. This is to permit a nut, M, being secured or screwed on its lower end, and hold in place a removable washer, 1, so placed to keep out the floating dust and moisture.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an electric lamp, the combination of a screw, a friction-clutch attached to the upper end thereof, a carbon-holder suspended therefrom, and actuating electro-motive devices, as set forth.

2. In an electric lamp, the combination of the armatures fluctuating in the cores of an upper and lower series of helices, and the friction-clutch mounted on the top of a screw regulating the downward movement of the positive carbon, substantially as described.

3. The combination, with a screw, G, and friction-clutch g, of the counterpart box G", rods H, and bracket I, as and for the purpose set forth.

4. The combination, with the upper and more powerful helices, the lower helices, and the armatnres fluctuating vertically in the hollow cores of the same, of the counterpart box of the friction-clutch.

IIO

5. The combination of the bracket, the armathe relative position of the carbon points, contures, and the counterpart box with the upper and lower series of contraction-sprin gs and the nut and screw device, as hereinbefore shown, for regulating the tension of the same.

6. In an electric lamp, the upright and independent positive and negative posts, both of which are parallel to the vertical sides of the box B, extending upward to near the top of the same, the negative post being a continuation of the hanger C, but said positive post being thoroughly insulated in the bracket 0, and connected by an insulated wire with the upper series of helices.

7. The combination, with the carbon-holder and the boX B, of a nut, M, arranged on the end of an annular flange projecting downward around the central aperture in the bottom of said box, and adapted to hold in position a washer, 1', as and for the purpose set forth.

8. The means of closing the circuit in an electric-arc lamp, consisting of a screw the thread of which terminates a suitable distance from its lower end, a carbon-holder suspended therefrom, and a bushing or head tapped to receive said screw, which is secured in or on the upper end of said carbon-holder, and is adapted to work off said screw, thus allowing the carbon-holder to drop and close the circuit, substantially as set forth.

9. Mechanism for automatically regulating sisting of an upper and lower series of helices, m m and n n, the armatures m, the bracket 1, the rods H, the counterpart box G, the triotion-clutch g, the screw G, and the carbonholder.

10. In an electric lamp, a screw having a friction-clutch affixed to its upper end, through the medium of which it is actuated, and having a collar arranged below said clutch, the under surface of which is beveled, and rests upon a suitable bearing in a diaphragm, through which said screw passes.

11. The combination of a screw having a clutch on the top end thereof, and the counterpart box of said friction-clutch, which is cupshaped, and has in it a sufficient quantity of glycerine or other suitable liquid, which acts as a brake to regulate the revolutions of said screw.

12. The combination, with the carbon-holder and box B, of a washer or other suitable packing, arranged as hereinbefore described, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I hereunto affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JAMES MGLAUGHLIN.

Witnesses:

JAMES H. OoYNE, FRANK D. THOMASON. 

